Shefoundhimwaitingforher,andpretendingtobeasleep,thoughsheclearlysawhimwinkoneofhiseyes。However,shetooknonotice,butthrowingthesackroughlyontheground,sheexclaimed:
　　'Nowmeasure！'
　　Atthisthejackalgotup,andgoingtotheheapofgrainwhichlaycloseby,hedivideditasbeforeintoeightportions——sevenforhimselfandoneforthesheep。
　　'Whatareyoudoingthatfor？'askedsheindignantly。'YouknowquitewellthatitwasIwhodrewthewater,andyouwhoonlypoureditintothetrenches。'
　　'Youaremistaken,'answeredthejackal。'ItwasIwhodrewthewater,andyouwhopoureditintothetrenches。Anybodywilltellyouthat！
　　Ifyoulike,Iwillaskthosepeoplewhoarediggingthere！'
　　'Verywell,'repliedthesheep。Andthejackalcalledout:
　　'Ho！Youdiggers,tellme:Whowasityouheardsingingoverthework？'
　　'Why,itwasyou,ofcourse,jackal！Yousangsoloudthatthewholeworldmighthaveheardyou！'
　　'Andwhoitisthatsings——hewhodrawsthewater,orhewhoemptiesit？'
　　'Why,certainlyhewhodrawsthewater！'
　　'Youhear？'saidthejackal,turningtothesheep。'Nowcomeandcarryawayyourownportion,orelseIshalltakeitformyself。'
　　'Youhavegotthebetterofme,'answeredthesheep;'andIsupposeI
　　mustconfessmyselfbeaten！ButasIbearnomalice,goandeatsomeofthedatesthatIhavebroughtinthatsack。'Andthejackal,wholoveddates,raninstantlyback,andtoreopenthemouthofthesack。
　　Butjustashewasabouttoplungehisnoseinhesawtwobrowneyescalmlylookingathim。Inaninstanthehadletfalltheflapofthesackandboundedbacktowherethesheepwasstanding。
　　'Iwasonlyinfun;andyouhavebroughtmyunclethegreyhound。Takeawaythesack,wewillmakethedivisionoveragain。'Andhebeganrearrangingtheheaps。
　　'One,two,three,four,five,six,seven,formymotherthesheep,andoneforthejackal,'countedhe;castingtimidglancesallthewhileatthesack。
　　'Nowyoucantakeyourshareandgo,'saidthesheep。Andthejackaldidnotneedtwicetelling！Wheneverthesheeplookedup,shestillsawhimflying,flyingacrosstheplain;and,forallIknow,hemaybeflyingacrossitstill。
　　[ContesBerberes,parReneBasset。]
　　TheThreeTreasuresoftheGiantsLong,longago,therelivedanoldmanandhiswifewhohadthreesons;
　　theeldestwascalledMartin,thesecondMichael,whilethethirdwasnamedJack。
　　Oneeveningtheywereallseatedroundthetable,eatingtheirsupperofbreadandmilk。
　　'Martin,'saidtheoldmansuddenly,'IfeelthatIcannotlivemuchlonger。You,astheeldest,willinheritthishut;but,ifyouvaluemyblessing,begoodtoyourmotherandbrothers。'
　　'Certainly,father;howcanyousupposeIshoulddothemwrong？'
　　repliedMartinindignantly,helpinghimselftoallthebestbitsinthedishashespoke。Theoldmansawnothing,butMichaellookedoninsurprise,andJackwassoastonishedthathequiteforgottoeathisownsupper。
　　Alittlewhileafter,thefatherfellill,andsentforhissons,whowereouthunting,tobidhimfarewell。Aftergivinggoodadvicetothetwoeldest,heturnedtoJack。
　　'Myboy,'hesaid,'youhavenotgotquiteasmuchsenseasotherpeople,butifHeavenhasdeprivedyouofsomeofyourwits,itwasgivenyouakindheart。Alwayslistentowhatitsays,andtakeheedtothewordsofyourmotherandbrothers,aswellasyouareable！'Sosayingtheoldmansankbackonhispillowsanddied。
　　ThecriesofgriefutteredbyMartinandMichaelsoundedthroughthehouse,butJackremainedbythebedsideofhisfather,stillandsilent,asifheweredeadalso。Atlengthhegotup,andgoingintothegarden,hidhimselfinsometrees,andweptlikeachild,whilehistwobrothersmadereadyforthefuneral。
　　NosoonerwastheoldmanburiedthanMartinandMichaelagreedthattheywouldgointotheworldtogethertoseektheirfortunes,whileJackstayedathomewiththeirmother。Jackwouldhavelikednothingbetterthantositanddreambythefire,butthemother,whowasveryoldherself,declaredthattherewasnoworkforhimtodo,andthathemustseekitwithhisbrothers。
　　So,onefinemorning,allthreesetout;MartinandMichaelcarriedtwogreatbagsfulloffood,butJackcarriednothing。Thismadehisbrothersveryangry,forthedaywashotandthebagswereheavy,andaboutnoontheysatdownunderatreeandbegantoeat。Jackwasashungryastheywere,butheknewthatitwasnouseaskingforanything;andhethrewhimselfunderanothertree,andweptbitterly。
　　'Anothertimeperhapsyouwon'tbesolazy,andwillbringfoodforyourself,'saidMartin,buttohissurpriseJackanswered:
　　'Youareanicepair！Youtalkofseekingyourfortunessoasnottobeaburdenonourmother,andyoubeginbycarryingoffallthefoodshehasinthehouse！'
　　Thisreplywassounexpectedthatforsomemomentsneitherofthebrothersmadeanyanswer。Thentheyofferedtheirbrothersomeoftheirfood,andwhenhehadfinishedeatingtheywenttheirwayoncemore。
　　Towardseveningtheyreachedasmallhut,andknockingatthedoor,askediftheymightspendthenightthere。Theman,whowasawood—cutter,invitedthemhim,andbeggedthemtositdowntosupper。
　　Martinthankedhim,butbeingveryproud,explainedthatitwasonlysheltertheywanted,astheyhadplentyoffoodwiththem;andheandMichaelatonceopenedtheirbagsandbegantoeat,whileJackhidhimselfinacorner。Thewife,onseeingthis,tookpityonhim,andcalledhimtocomeandsharetheirsupper,whichhegladlydid,andverygoodhefoundit。Atthis,Martinregretteddeeplythathehadbeensofoolishastorefuse,forhisbitsofbreadandcheeseseemedveryhardwhenhesmeltthesavourysouphisbrotherwasenjoying。
　　'Heshan'thavesuchachanceagain,'thoughthe;andthenextmorningheinsistedonplungingintoathickforestwheretheywerelikelytomeetnobody。
　　Foralongtimetheywanderedhitherandthither,fortheyhadnopathtoguidethem;butatlasttheycameuponawideclearing,inthemidstofwhichstoodacastle。Jackshoutedwithdelight,butMartin,whowasinabadtemper,saidsharply:
　　'Wemusthavetakenawrongturning！Letusgoback。'
　　'Idiot！'repliedMichael,whowashungrytoo,and,likemanypeoplewhentheyarehungry,verycrossalso。'Wesetouttotravelthroughtheworld,andwhatdoesitmatterifwegototherightortotheleft？'And,withoutanotherword,tookthepathtothecastle,closelyfollowedbyJack,andafteramomentbyMartinlikewise。
　　Thedoorofthecastlestoodopen,andtheyenteredagreathall,andlookedaboutthem。Notacreaturewastobeseen,andsuddenlyMartin——hedidnotknowwhy——feltalittlefrightened。Hewouldhaveleftthecastleatonce,butstoppedwhenJackboldlywalkeduptoadoorinthewallandopenedit。Hecouldnotforveryshamebeoutdonebyhisyoungerbrother,andpassedbehindhimintoanothersplendidhall,whichwasfilledfromfloortoceilingwithgreatpiecesofcoppermoney。
　　ThesightquitedazzledMartinandMichael,whoemptiedalltheprovisionsthatremainedoutoftheirbags,andheapedthemupinsteadwithhandfulsofcopper。
　　ScarcelyhadtheydonethiswhenJackthrewopenanotherdoor,andthistimeitledtoahallfilledwithsilver。Inaninstanthisbrothershadturnedtheirbagsupsidedown,sothatthecoppermoneytumbledoutontothefloor,andwereshovellinginhandfulsofthesilverinstead。
　　Theyhadhardlyfinished,whenJackopenedyetathirddoor,andallthreefellbackinamazement,forthisroomasamassofgold,sobrightthattheireyesgrewsoreastheylookedatit。However,theysoonrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,andquicklyemptiedtheirbagsofsilver,andfilledthemwithgoldinstead。Whentheywouldholdnomore,Martinsaid:
　　'Wehadbetterhurryoffnowlestsomebodyelseshouldcome,andwemightnotknowwhattodo';and,followedbyMichael,hehastilyleftthecastle。Jacklingeredbehindforafewminutestoputpiecesofgold,silver,andcopperintohispocket,andtoeatthefoodthathisbrothershadthrowndowninthefirstroom。Thenhewentafterthem,andfoundthemlyingdowntorestinthemidstofaforest。Itwasnearsunset,andMartinbegantofeelhungry,so,whenJackarrived,hebadehimreturntothecastleandbringthebreadandcheesethattheyhadleftthere。
　　'Itishardlyworthdoingthat,'answeredJack;'forIpickedupthepiecesandatethemmyself。'
　　Atthisreplybothbrotherswerebesidethemselveswithanger,andfellupontheboy,beatinghim,andcallinghimnames,tilltheywerequitetired。
　　'Gowhereyoulike,'criedMartinwithafinalkick;'butnevercomenearusagain。'AndpoorJackranweepingintothewoods。
　　Thenextmorninghisbrotherswenthome,andboughtabeautifulhouse,wheretheylivedwiththeirmotherlikegreatlords。
　　Jackremainedforsomehoursinhiding,thankfultobesafefromhistormentors;butwhennoonecametotroublehim,andhisbackdidnotachesomuch,hebegantothinkwhathehadbetterdo。Atlengthhemadeuphismindtogotothecasteandtakeawayasmuchmoneywithhimaswouldenablehimtoliveincomfortfortherestofhislife。
　　Thisbeingdecided,hesprangup,andsetoutalongthepathwhichledtothecastle。Asbefore,thedoorstoodopen,andhewentontillhehadreachedthehallofgold,andtherehetookoffhisjacketandtiedthesleevestogethersothatitmightmakeakindofbag。Hethenbegantopourinthegoldbyhandfuls,when,allatonce,anoiselikethundershookthecastle。Thiswasfollowedbyavoice,hoarseasthatofabull,whichcried:
　　'Ismellthesmellofaman。'Andtwogiantsentered。
　　'So,littleworm！itisyouwhostealourtreasures！'exclaimedthebiggest。'Well,wehavegotyounow,andwewillcookyouforsupper！'
　　Butheretheothergiantdrewhimaside,andforamomentortwotheywhisperedtogether。Atlengththefirstgiantspoke:
　　'TopleasemyfriendIwillspareyourlifeonconditionthat,forthefuture,youshallguardourtreasures。Ifyouarehungrytakethislittletableandraponit,saying,asyoudoso:"Thedinnerofanemperor！"andyouwillgetasmuchfoodasyouwant。'
　　WithalightheartJackpromisedallthatwasaskedofhim,andforsomedaysenjoyedhimselfmightily。Hehadeverythinghecouldwishfor,anddidnothingfrommorningtillnight;butby—and—byhebegantogetverytiredofitall。
　　'Letthegiantsguardtheirtreasuresthemselves,'hesaidtohimselfatlast;'Iamgoingaway。ButIwillleaveallthegoldandsilverbehindme,andwilltakenoughtbutyou,mygoodlittletable。'
　　So,tuckingthetableunderhisarm,hestartedofffortheforest,buthedidnotlingertherelong,andsoonfoundhimselfinthefieldsontheotherside。Therehesawanoldman,whobeggedJacktogivehimsomethingtoeat。
　　'Youcouldnothaveaskedabetterperson,'answeredJackcheerfully。
　　Andsigningtohimtositdownwithhimunderatree,hesetthetableinfrontofthem,andstruckitthreetimes,crying:
　　'Thedinnerofanemperor！'Hehadhardlyutteredthewordswhenfishandmeatofallkindsappearedonit！
　　'Thatisaclevertrickofyours,'saidtheoldman,whenhehadeatenasmuchashewanted。'GiveittomeinexchangeforatreasureIhavewhichisstillbetter。Doyouseethiscornet？Well,youhaveonlytotellitthatyouwishforanarmy,andyouwillhaveasmanysoldiersasyourequire。'
　　Now,sincehehadbeenlefttohimself,Jackhadgrownambitious,so,afteramoment'shesitation,hetookthecornetandgavethetableinexchange。Theoldmanbadehimfarewell,andsetoffdownonepath,whileJackchoseanother,andforalongtimehewasquitepleasedwithhisnewpossession。Then,ashefelthungry,hewishedforhistablebackagain,asnohousewasinsight,andhewantedsomesupperbadly。
　　Allatonceherememberedhiscornet,andawickedthoughtenteredhismind。
　　'Twohundredhussars,forward！'criedhe。Andtheneighingofhorsesandtheclankingofswordswereheardcloseathand。TheofficerwhorodeattheirheadapproachedJack,andpolitelyinquiredwhathewishedthemtodo。
　　'Amileortwoalongthatroad,'answeredJack,'youwillfindanoldmancarryingatable。Takethetablefromhimandbringittome。'
　　Theofficersalutedandwentbacktohismen,whostartedatagalloptodoJack'sbidding。
　　Intenminutestheyhadreturned,bearingthetablewiththem。
　　'Thatisall,thankyou,'saidJack;andthesoldiersdisappearedinsidethecornet。
　　Oh,whatagoodsupperJackhadthatnight,quiteforgettingthatheowedittoameantrick。Thenextdayhebreakfastedearly,andthenwalkedontowardsthenearesttown。Onthewaythitherhemetanotheroldman,whobeggedforsomethingtoeat。
　　'Certainly,youshallhavesomethingtoeat,'repliedJack。And,placingthetableonthegroundhecried:
　　'Thedinnerofanemperor！'whenallsortsoffooddishesappeared。Atfirsttheoldmanatequitegreedily,andsaidnothing;but,afterhishungerwassatisfied,heturnedtoJackandsaid:
　　'Thatisaveryclevertrickofyours。Givethetabletomeandyoushallhavesomethingstillbetter。'
　　'Idon'tbelievethatthereisanythingbetter,'answeredJack。
　　'Yes,thereis。Hereismybag;itwillgiveyouasmanycastlesasyoucanpossiblywant。'
　　Jackthoughtforamoment;thenhereplied:'Verywell,Iwillexchangewithyou。'Andpassingthetabletotheoldman,hehungthebagoverhisarm。
　　Fiveminuteslaterhesummonedfivehundredlancersoutofthecornetandbadethemgoaftertheoldmanandfetchbackthetable。
　　Nowthatbyhiscunninghehadobtainedpossessionofthethreemagicobjects,heresolvedtoreturntohisnativeplace。Smearinghisfacewithdirt,andtearinghisclothessoastolooklikeabeggar,hestoppedthepassersbyand,onpretenceofseekingmoneyorfood,hequestionedthemaboutthevillagegossip。Inthismannerhelearnedthathisbrothershadbecomegreatmen,muchrespectedinallthecountryround。Whenheheardthat,helostnotimeingoingtothedooroftheirfinehouseandimploringthemtogivehimfoodandshelter;buttheonlythinghegotwashardwords,andacommandtobegelsewhere。Atlength,however,attheirmother'sentreaty,hewastoldthathemightpassthenightinthestable。Herehewaiteduntileverybodyinthehousewassoundasleep,whenhedrewhisbagfromunderhiscloak,anddesiredthatacastlemightappearinthatplace;
　　andthecornetgavehimsoldierstoguardthecastle,whilethetablefurnishedhimwithagoodsupper。Inthemorning,hecauseditalltovanish,andwhenhisbrothersenteredthestabletheyfoundhimlyingonthestraw。
　　Jackremainedhereformanydays,doingnothing,and——asfarasanybodyknew——eatingnothing。Thisconductpuzzledhisbrothersgreatly,andtheyputsuchconstantquestionstohim,thatatlengthhetoldthemthesecretofthetable,andevengaveadinnertothem,whichfaroutdidanytheyhadeverseenorheardof。Butthoughtheyhadsolemnlypromisedtorevealnothing,somehoworotherthetaleleakedout,andbeforelongreachedtheearsofthekinghimself。ThatveryeveninghischamberlainarrivedatJack'sdwelling,witharequestfromthekingthathemightborrowthetableforthreedays。
　　'Verywell,'answeredJack,'youcantakeitbackwithyou。ButtellhismajestythatifhedoesnotreturnitattheendofthethreedaysIwillmakewaruponhim。'
　　Sothechamberlaincarriedawaythetableandtookitstraighttotheking,tellinghimatthesametimeofJack'sthreat,atwhichtheybothlaughedtilltheirsidesached。
　　Nowthekingwassodelightedwiththetable,andthedinnersitgavehim,thatwhenthethreedayswereoverhecouldnotmakeuphismindtopartwithit。Instead,hesentforhiscarpenter,andbadehimcopyitexactly,andwhenitwasdonehetoldhischamberlaintoreturnittoJackwithhisbestthanks。Ithappenedtobedinnertime,andJackinvitedthechamberlain,whoknewnothingofthetrick,tostayanddinewithhim。Thegoodman,whohadeatenseveralexcellentmealsprovidedbythetableinthelastthreedays,acceptedtheinvitationwithpleasure,eventhoughhewastodineinastable,andsatdownonthestrawbesideJack。
　　'Thedinnerofanemperor！'criedJack。Butnotevenamorselofcheesemadeitsappearance。
　　'Thedinnerofanemperor！'shoutedJackinavoiceofthunder。Thenthetruthdawnedonhim;and,crushingthetablebetweenhishands,heturnedtothechamberlain,who,bewilderedandhalf—frightened,waswonderinghowtogetaway。
　　'Tellyourfalsekingthatto—morrowIwilldestroyhiscastleaseasilyasIhavebrokenthistable。'
　　Thechamberlainhastenedbacktothepalace,andgavethekingJack'smessage,atwhichhelaughedmorethanbefore,andcalledallhiscourtierstohearthestory。Buttheywerenotquitesomerrywhentheywokenextmorningandbeheldtenthousandhorsemen,andasmanyarchers,surroundingthepalace。Thekingsawitwasuselesstoholdout,andhetookthewhiteflagoftruceinonehand,andtherealtableintheother,andsetouttolookforJack。
　　'Icommittedacrime,'saidhe;'butIwilldomybesttomakeupforit。Hereisyourtable,whichIownwithshamethatItriedtosteal,andyoushallhavebesides,mydaughterasyourwife！'
　　Therewasnoneedtodelaythemarriagewhenthetablewasabletofurnishthemostsplendidbanquetthateverwasseen,andaftereveryonehadeatenanddrunkasmuchastheywanted,Jacktookhisbagandcommandedacastlefilledwithallsortsoftreasurestoariseintheparkforhimselfandhisbride。
　　Atthisproofofhispowertheking'sheartdiedwithinhim。
　　'Yourmagicisgreaterthanmine,'hesaid;'andyouareyoungandstrong,whileIamoldandtired。Take,therefore,thesceptrefrommyhand,andmycrownfrommyhead,andrulemypeoplebetterthanIhavedone。'
　　SoatlastJack'sambitionwassatisfied。Hecouldnothopetobemorethanking,andaslongashehadhiscornettoprovidehimwithsoldiershewassecureagainsthisenemies。Heneverforgavehisbrothersforthewaytheyhadtreatedhim,thoughhepresentedhismotherwithabeautifulcastle,andeverythingshecouldpossiblywishfor。Inthecentreofhisownpalacewasatreasurechamber,andinthischamberthetable,thecornet,andthebagwerekeptasthemostprizedofallhispossessions,andnotaweekpassedwithoutavisitfromkingJohntomakesuretheyweresafe。Hereignedlongandwell,anddiedaveryoldman,belovedbyhispeople。Buthisgoodexamplewasnotfollowedbyhissonsandhisgrandsons。Theygrewsoproudthattheywereashamedtothinkthatthefounderoftheirracehadoncebeenapoorboy;andastheyandalltheworldcouldnotfailtorememberit,aslongasthetable,thecornet,andthebagwereshowninthetreasurechamber,oneking,morefoolishthantherest,thrustthemintoadarkanddampcellar。
　　Forsometimethekingdomremained,thoughitbecameweakerandweakereveryyearthatpassed。Then,oneday,arumourreachedthekingthatalargearmywasmarchingagainsthim。Vaguelyherecollectedsometaleshehadheardaboutamagiccornetwhichcouldprovideasmanysoldiersaswouldservetoconquertheearth,andwhichhadbeenremovedbyhisgrandfathertoacellar。Thitherhehastenedthathemightrenewhispoweroncemore,andinthatblackandslimyspothefoundthetreasuresindeed。Butthetablefelltopiecesashetouchedit,inthecornetthereremainedonlyafewfragmentsofleathernbeltswhichtheratshadgnawed,andinthebagnothingbutbrokenbitsofstone。
　　Andthekingbowedhisheadtothedoomthatawaitedhim,andinhisheartcursedtheruinwroughtbytheprideandfoolishnessofhimselfandhisforefathers。
　　[FromContesPopulairesSlaves,parLouisLeger。]
　　TheRoverofthePlainAlongwayoff,neartheseacoastoftheeastofAfrica,theredwelt,onceuponatime,amanandhiswife。Theyhadtwochildren,asonandadaughter,whomtheylovedverymuch,and,likeparentsinothercountries,theyoftentalkedofthefinemarriagestheyoungpeoplewouldmakesomeday。Outtherebothboysandgirlsmarryearly,andverysoon,itseemedtothemother,amessagewassentbyarichmanontheothersideofthegreathillsofferingafatherdofoxeninexchangeforthegirl。Everyoneinthehouseandinthevillagerejoiced,andthemaidenwasdespatchedtohernewhome。Whenallwasquietagainthefathersaidtohisson:
　　'Nowthatweownsuchasplendidtroopofoxenyouhadbetterhastenandgetyourselfawife,lestsomeillnessshouldovertakethem。
　　Alreadywehaveseeninthevillagesroundaboutoneortwodamselswhoseparentswouldgladlypartwiththemforlessthanhalftheherd。
　　Thereforetelluswhichyoulikebest,andwewillbuyherforyou。'
　　Butthesonanswered:
　　'Notso;themaidensIhaveseendonotpleaseme。If,indeed,Imustmarry,letmetravelandfindawifeformyself。'
　　'Itshallbeasyouwish,'saidtheparents;'butifby—and—bytroubleshouldcomeofit,itwillbeyourfaultandnotours。'
　　Theyouth,however,wouldnotlisten;andbiddinghisfatherandmotherfarewell,setoutonhissearch。Far,farawayhewandered,overmountainsandacrossrivers,tillhereachedavillagewherethepeoplewerequitedifferentfromthoseofhisownrace。Heglancedabouthimandnoticedthatthegirlswerefairtolookupon,astheypoundedmaizeorstewedsomethingthatsmeltveryniceinearthenpots——especiallyifyouwerehotandtired;andwhenoneofthemaidensturnedroundandofferedthestrangersomedinner,hemadeuphismindthathewouldwedherandnobodyelse。
　　Sohesentamessagetoherparentsaskingtheirleavetotakeherforhiswife,andtheycamenextdaytobringtheiranswer。
　　'Wewillgiveyouourdaughter,'saidthey,'ifyoucanpayagoodpriceforher。Neverwastheresohardworkingagirl;andhowweshalldowithoutherwecannottell！Still——nodoubtyourfatherandmotherwillcomethemselvesandbringtheprice？'
　　'No;Ihavethepricewithme,'repliedtheyoungman;layingdownahandfulofgoldpieces。'Hereitis——takeit。'
　　Theoldcouple'seyesglitteredgreedily;butcustomforbadethemtotouchthepricebeforeallwasarranged。
　　'Atleast,'saidthey,afteramoment'spause,'wemayexpectthemtofetchyourwifetohernewhome？'
　　'No;theyarenotusedtotravelling,'answeredthebridegroom。'Lettheceremonybeperformedwithoutdelay,andwewillsetforthatonce。
　　Itisalongjourney。'
　　Thentheparentscalledinthegirl,whowaslyinginthesunoutsidethehut,and,inthepresenceofallthevillage,agoatwaskilled,thesacreddancetookplace,andablessingwassaidovertheheadsoftheyoungpeople。Afterthatthebridewasledasidebyherfather,whosedutyitwastobestowonhersomepartingadviceastoherconductinhermarriedlife。
　　'Begoodtoyourhusband'sparents,'addedhe,'andalwaysdothewillofyourhusband。'Andthegirlnoddedherheadobediently。Nextitwasthemother'sturn;and,aswasthecustomofthetribe,shespoketoherdaughter:
　　'Willyouchoosewhichofyoursistersshallgowithyoutocutyourwoodandcarryyourwater？'
　　'Idonotwantanyofthem,'answeredshe;'theyarenouse。Theywilldropthewoodandspillthewater。'
　　'Thenwillyouhaveanyoftheotherchildren？Thereareenoughtospare,'askedthemotheragain。Butthebridesaidquickly:
　　'Iwillhavenoneofthem！Youmustgivemeourbuffalo,theRoverofthePlain;healoneshallserveme。'
　　'Whatfollyyoutalk！'criedtheparents。'Giveyouourbuffalo,theRoverofthePlain？Why,youknowthatourlifedependsonhim。Hereheiswellfedandliesonsoftgrass;buthowcanyoutellwhatwillbefallhiminanothercountry？Thefoodmaybebad,hewilldieofhunger;and,ifhedieswediealso。'
　　'No,no,'saidthebride;'Icanlookafterhimaswellasyou。Gethimready,forthesunissinkinganditistimewesetforth。'
　　Soshewentawayandputtogetherasmallpotfilledwithhealingherms,ahornthatsheusedintendingsickpeople,alittleknife,andacalabashcontainingdeerfat;and,hidingtheseabouther,shetookleaveofherfatherandmotherandstartedacrossthemountainsbythesideofherhusband。
　　Buttheyoungmandidnotseethebuffalothatfollowedthem,whichhadlefthishometobetheservantofhiswife。
　　Nooneeverknewhowthenewsspreadtothekraalthattheyoungmanwascomingback,bringingawifewithhim;but,somehoworother,whenthetwoenteredthevillage,everymanandwomanwasstandingintheroadutteringshoutsofwelcome。
　　'Ah,youarenotdeadafterall,'criedthey;'andhavefoundawifetoyourliking,thoughyouwouldhavenoneofourgirls。Well,well,youhavechosenyourownpath;andifillcomesofitbewarelestyougrumble。'
　　Nextdaythehusbandtookhiswifetothefieldsandshowedherwhichwerehis,andwhichbelongedtohismother。Thegirllistenedcarefullytoallhetoldher,andwalkedwithhimbacktothehut;butclosetothedoorshestopped,andsaid:
　　'Ihavedroppedmynecklaceofbeadsinthefield,andImustgoandlookforit。'Butintruthshehaddonenothingofthesort,anditwasonlyanexcusetogoandseekthebuffalo。
　　Thebeastwascrouchingunderatreewhenshecameup,andsnortedwithpleasureatthesightofher。
　　'Youcanroamaboutthisfield,andthis,andthis,'shesaid,'fortheybelongtomyhusband;andthatishiswood,whereyoumayhideyourself。Buttheotherfieldsarehismother's,sobewarelestyoutouchthem。'
　　'Iwillbeware,'answeredthebuffalo;and,pattinghishead,thegirllefthim。
　　Oh,howmuchbetteraservanthewasthananyofthelittlegirlsthebridehadrefusedtobringwithher！Ifshewantedwater,shehadonlytocrossthepatchofmaizebehindthehutandseekouttheplacewherethebuffalolayhidden,andputdownherpailbesidehim。Thenshewouldsitathereasewhilehewenttothelakeandbroughtthebucketbackbrimmingover。Ifshewantedwood,hewouldbreakthebranchesoffthetreesandlaythematherfeet。Andthevillagerswatchedherreturnladen,andsaidtoeachother:
　　'Surelythegirlsofhercountryarestrongerthanourgirls,fornoneofthemcouldcutsoquicklyorcarrysomuch！'Butthen,nobodyknewthatshehadabuffaloforaservant。
　　Only,allthistimeshenevergavethepoorbuffaloanythingtoeat,becauseshehadjustonedish,outofwhichsheandherhusbandate;
　　whileinheroldhometherewasadishputasideexpresslyfortheRoverofthePlain。Thebuffaloboreitaslongashecould;but,oneday,whenhismistressbadehimgotothelakeandfetchwater,hiskneesalmostgavewayfromhunger。Hekeptsilence,however,tilltheevening,whenhesaidtohismistress:
　　'Iamnearlystarved;IhavenottouchedfoodsinceIcamehere。Icanworknomore。'
　　'Alas！'answeredshe,'whatcanIdo？Ihaveonlyonedishinthehouse。Youwillhavetostealsomebeansfromthefields。Takeafewhereandafewthere;butbesurenottotaketoomanyfromoneplace,ortheownermaynoticeit。'
　　Nowthebuffalohadalwayslivedanhonestlife,butifhismistressdidnotfeedhim,hemustgetfoodforhimself。Sothatnight,whenallthevillagewasasleep,hecameoutfromthewoodandateafewbeanshereandafewthere,ashismistresshadbiddenhim。Andwhenatlasthishungerwassatisfied,hecreptbacktohislair。Butabuffaloisnotafairy,andthenextmorning,whenthewomenarrivedtoworkinthefields,theystoodstillwithastonishment,andsaidtoeachother:
　　'Justlookatthis;asavagebeasthasbeendestroyingourcrops,andwecanseethetracesofhisfeet！'Andtheyhurriedtotheirhomestotelltheirtale。
　　Intheeveningthegirlcreptouttothebuffalo'shiding—place,andsaidtohim:
　　'Theyperceivedwhathappened,ofcourse;soto—nightyouhadbetterseekyoursupperfurtheroff。'Andthebuffalonoddedhisheadandfollowedhercounsel;butinthemorning,whenthesewomenalsowentouttowork,theracesofhoofswereplainlytobeseen,andtheyhastenedtotelltheirhusbands,andbeggedthemtobringtheirguns,andtowatchfortherobber。
　　Ithappenedthatthestrangergirl'shusbandwasthebestmarksmaninallthevillage,andhehidhimselfbehindthetrunkofatreeandwaited。
　　Thebuffalo,thinkingthattheywouldprobablymakeasearchforhiminthefieldshehadlaidwastetheeveningbefore,returnedtothebeanpatchbelongingtohismistress。
　　Theyoungmansawhimcomingwithamazement。
　　'Why,itisabuffalo！'criedhe;'Ineverhavebeheldoneinthiscountrybefore！'Andraisinghisgun,heaimedjustbehindtheear。
　　Thebuffalogavealeapintotheair,andthenfelldead。
　　'Itwasagoodshot,'saidtheyoungman。Andherantothevillagetotellthemthatthethiefwaspunished。
　　Whenheenteredhishuthefoundhiswife,whohadsomehowheardthenews,twistingherselftoandfroandsheddingtears。
　　'Areyouill？'askedhe。Andsheanswered:'Yes;Ihavepainsallovermybody。'Butshewasnotillatall,onlyveryunhappyatthedeathofthebuffalowhichhadservedhersowell。Herhusbandfeltanxious,andsentforthemedicineman;butthoughshepretendedtolistentohim,shethrewallhismedicineoutofthedoordirectlyhehadgoneaway。
　　Withthefirstraysoflightthewholevillagewasawake,andthewomensetfortharmedwithbasketsandthemenwithknivesinordertocutupthebuffalo。Onlythegirlremainedinherhut;andafterawhileshetoowenttojointhem,groaningandweepingasshewalkedalong。
　　'Whatareyoudoinghere？'askedherhusbandwhenhesawher。'Ifyouareillyouarebetterathome。'
　　'Oh！Icouldnotstayaloneinthevillage,'saidshe。Andhermother—in—lawleftoffherworktocomeandscoldher,andtotellherthatshewouldkillherselfifshedidsuchfoolishthings。Butthegirlwouldnotlistenandsatdownandlookedon。